direct
discourse: I told them, "Get out of here!"
indirect discourse: I told them to get out of here.

D.
When a quotation is put in indirect discourse, care must be taken
to verify that verb tenses reflect the change in temporal context:

direct
discourse: She said, "I will be on time."
indirect discourse: She said she would be on time.

direct
discourse: When he called he said, "I am at the airport"
indirect discourse: When he called he said he was at the airport.

TEST

>>
indirect discourse

Sarah
said, "I am ill."

Paul
told me, "Go to the cinema and buy two tickets".

Thierry
explained to us, "I went to Spain during my holidays".

John
said, "I will buy a new computer soon".

My
father told me, "Do your homework!"

ANSWERS

Sarah
said (that) she was ill. 2. Paul told me to go to the cinema and buy
two tickets. 3. Thierry explained to us (that) he had gone to Spain
during his holidays. 4. John said (that) he would buy a new computer
soon. 5. My father told me to do my homework.